Sambalpur, Aug. 23: The introduction of users' fee at district headquarters hospital here has caused resentment among residents.

The hospital authorities started collecting the fee from July 15. According to the new system, each patient has to pay Rs 5 for check-up at the outpatient department and Rs 10 for admission to the hospital. Sources said Rs 52,495 has been collected till the end of July.

"It's a government hospital and no fee should be collected from the patients," said Sanjit Mohanty, convener of Progressive Sambalpur, a city-based social organisation.

Jagyan Narayana Pradhan, a resident, said: "The hospital doesn't have enough beds, machines and required staff, but still fee is being collected from the patients. The authorities should immediately put a stop to it."

"The hospital authorities should first provide facilities to the patients and then start collecting users fee," said another resident Rajnish Prakash Mahakur.

When contacted, chief district medical officer Jagatkrushna Samantray said: "It will be used to upgrade the facility."

Hospital manager Sudeep Dutta said patients belonging to the BPL category were not being charged.

"The revenue generated from the fee is also being spent on the central registration system. The patients are being provided computerised ticket. The hospital will retain a scanned copy of the prescription. It will be helpful to check whether the patients are being prescribed medicines that are available in the hospital," said Dutta.